Student Teaching, Week 5
This week was much better than last, although there was still less participation than in some of the earlier classes. There was a lower level of disruption, although it was still somewhat distracting for me as a teacher. Fortunately, I stumbled onto the trick to keeping the students interested and involved. They really seem to like repetition and movement, which I discovered when we did a kripalu-type move that I don’t even have a name for. Essentially, it’s a standing, side-to-side moving twist at the waist, letting the arms swing freely. My first yoga teacher, Sondra, taught it, and so does one of the teachers at my gym. My students absolutely loved it, and we spent about five minutes of the hour-long class just on that move.
I also taught them alternate-nostril breathing, which I personally find very helpful for sinus and headache pain. It’s said to be helpful for calming oneself, too, and I’ve talked a couple of people through it during emotional upsets. One of them told me that one of the things that helps is the need to concentrate on what you’re doing, and that gets you a bit of emotional distance.
Nobody was in the mood for final relaxation, which I thought was a bit odd—most students, even kids, love the final relaxation. But as soon as I figured out it wasn’t going to happen, I shrugged, moved into some neck and shoulder stretches, and ended the class. Still, they all seemed to feel good after it was done, and they even had a Christmas card for me.
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